Journalist attacked in Pilibhit, 4 booked

Pilibhit: A journalist was allegedly attacked by a group of people here with four persons having been booked over the incident, police said.

The incident comes on the heels of the case of murder of a journalist in Shahjahanpur in which an Uttar Pradesh minister is a key accused.

According to Pilibhit SP JK Shahi, the journalist, Haider, has complained that he was attacked yesterday by one Anand and his associates.

Haider, a journalist in the electronic media, has claimed that he was attacked as he had reported stories which had not gone down well with the accused.

He said he had received a call asking him to come to an appointed spot in order to obtain information on a story but, when he got there, was attacked by the accused.

"Yesterday, I got a call regarding a robbery case. But when I reached the spot, Anand and some 3-4 others surrounded me and started beating me up.

"They hit me with the butt of a revolver and also dragged me for 100m by a car," alleged Haider, who claimed he was left unconscious in the attack which took place in the Puranpur area here. He said a passerby later came to his aid and reached him to Paharpur police station.

The SP said that the journalist has been sent for a medical examination and, "as per the medical report, if there are any more sections of IPC applicable in this case, those will be added and prompt action will be taken to bring the accused to justice".

Earlier, in Shahjahanpur on June 1, journalist Jagendra Singh was allegedly set on fire during a police raid at his house with his family members claiming that police officials were responsible in the matter. Singh succumbed to his injuries on June 8.

An FIR has been registered against, among others, the UP Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, Ram Murti Verma, and Inspector (Chowk) Sri Prakash Rai in connection with the killing.

The journalist is said to have invited Verma's ire by posting reports against him on Facebook pertaining to alleged illegal mining activities and land grabbing.